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Does sex belong in video games?

Tits and ass are incredibly prevalent in modern society. Sex is used to sell products in advertising, actors are shamefully primped into digitally crafted sex symbols and TV shows like Toddlers in Tiaras, stretch the definition of acceptable television viewing. Sex is everywhere, but oddly, not in our games.

With the recent pulling of No Reply Games' sex focused, interactive story 'game' “Seduce Me” from Valve's Greenlight service due to breaking of the terms and conditions – for being an “offensive” title – sex is back in the headlines of gaming websites the world over, all of them asking the question, “does sex belong in video games?”

It could be argued that games purely focused around sex are pornographic in nature and therefore warrant some sort of segmentation perhaps, in the way it is with websites and traditionally with stores that cater specifically to it.

But what about games that just feature sex as a feature or component of the overall experience?

Every time a popular title attempts to put anything sex like in its games that goes beyond a fade to black and some grunts, there's a problem. Look at GTA: San Andreas' Hot Coffee mod, or the blue side boob that appeared for a brief second in Mass Effect 2. It all gets blown out of proportion, people that haven't even played the game or seen footage of the event start screaming “save the children,” and to some it seems as if the world is going to end.

Of course it never does and children are as corrupted as their parents allow them to be. These games have age ratings for a reason and if parents choose to ignore them it's their responsibility to set it right, or at least explain things to their kids so they understand and learn about the adult activity in a constructive way.

But should it be there in the first place? Well the obvious answer would be yes, for a variety of reasons.

1: Taking into consideration the age ratings I mentioned earlier, the average gamer is in their 30s at this point. Not only have they had sex, they've been living with internet pornography for over 15 years. Believe me, unless you're doing a game adaptation of The Serbian Film, this is nothing we haven't seen before.

2: Unless it's Manhunt, where ritualistic killing was censored because... it's the game the lobby groups decided to go after, murder barely raises an eyebrow from anyone. Killing is rampant in games. Just look at the fast Paragon leveller in Diablo III. He's killed almost two million monsters alone. If he can commit mass murder, why can't a game have a sex scene in it?

3: Sex is a part of life. For anyone that doesn't know, it's how babies are made. Shocking I know, but we all began our life at a moment of parental coitus and society is slowly beginning to lose the taboo. It's still there – and enjoyed by many – but the simple fact is that sex shouldn't be considered a naughty thing any more. It's in films, in advertising, television and there is absolutely no reason it shouldn't be in our games.

However, despite these very obvious reasons that sex should be included in games and accepted by the public as a simple part of the artistic medium, the blame isn't entirely on the shoulders of complainers. Game developers could also help the cause out.

Despite the criticism for its leud content, Mass Effect actually has an incredibly impressive and deeply emotional erotic part to it but it is a rarity. More often than not, we get adventurers fucking hookers, or silly quick time sex games or button mashing to fuck harder. This isn't the type of thing that detractors of sexual content in gaming are going to agree with, probably ever.

No I'm not saying that because lobbyists and complainers have stale sex lives that games should be the same, but there isn't a reason that sex can't be used as an emotional connector between characters either.

Games focused around getting the clothes off of a digital woman should be just as allowed to exist in our gaming spheres as the latest AAA blockbuster, but they don't further the cause of sex in video games as much as they could.

Not only do I believe that sex deserves to be a part of gaming, I think it deserves to have more credit as a part of the emotional story within a game. It doesn't need to be your character just getting his rocks off, or a nudge-nudge-wink-wink from the developers saying “we know what you gamers want, digital titties,” but a real way for players to connect with a character.

We talked a few weeks about about how Lara Croft's surviving of an attempted rape could be used to delve into all sorts of new character emotions within a game. How about include a sex scene in that game not long after the rape and make it optional. Have it so that players can decide. If she goes along with it, perhaps Lara is emotionally distracted and merely trying to forget a horrific experience, thereby not building a relationship with the male counterpart. Perhaps if she says no, players can learn something about his character.

Sex is a massive motivator in human life and it should be used in games as well, not just as a treat or a laughable aside, but a real part of the gameplay. It can be part of the story and part of the world the developers create.

It doesn't always have to be, just as not every single racing game has to be a sim like experience, but just now and again I'd like to see some real effort put into sex.

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Just like we have heterosexuality and homosexuality, there are a decent number of folks in the world who simply have no interest in sex with anyone ever. It's quite possible that they don't even **********, but I don't have them all entered into my cell phone so I can't ask.

Video games, work, sleep, eating, drinking, is what we do to fill up the time we aren't having sex. Is hard to think about sex and strategy at the same time. Nothing worse than being horny when you don't want to be. Remember sitting in class next to a smoking hottie in school.....it was ******* impossible to pay attention the assignment.

I wish they made more games like these and keep making em by the 100's every year until dumb f***s like you who find sex between pixels or still images insulting learn to accept it. It's a game it was made for an ***** audience if you don't like it don't play it, same goes for you not dying outside in the streets daily... you choose not to cross on red light you decide not to take a shortcut jumping out your window, and you also choose not to shoot yourself in the fin face. So please use that brain and make this another choice and don't play it don't criticize it don't even go looking at it. Sick and tired of fks who think they control the world and wish to censor everything in the world to protect their so called innocent children who go out of their way to illegally download porn and everything else that's 18+ learn to control your kids or don't have em.

The chief motivation behind not putting sex in video games isn't that people think sex is evil; it's that many people regard sex as something very private that ought to be solely the business of the people involved. Even though violence is generally regarded as evil, we don't regard it as something private; we're willing to tolerate morally gray actions like violence because they generally don't make us feel like peeping toms, or like we're disloyal to our significant others. Is it hypocritical to hold games to this standard but not films and literature? Certainly. However, I believe we would be better off if we refused to show sex onscreen in film and literature out of respect for the privacy of couples, even fictional ones.

you are entitled to your feelings but don't speak for the rest of us gamers, when shepherd finally has sex and she's able with tali that really brought her to life for me, after all the work I did to cause it, and thus I care if she committed suicide. Before I wouldn't have. I also found Seasons of Sakura highly enjoyable as sex was a focal point in choosing his life partner. My sex life is private, my character is fantasy, simple.

I think sex is just that. It's just a natural thing and to censor it is like supporting ignorance of what is real. These characters are fictional, so it doesn't matter to me. I don't like feeling left out of what's going on, espeically if it's supposedly my character, like in Mass Effect. "I" can see Tali's face, but not me? If you feel it should be private, even in fiction, then games should have a cencorship option, like they do with blood & gore. Morality is subjective and I don't believe in forcing it onto people if they can avoid doing so.

If parents don't want their children to see ****, ***, and ******* then why the honest **** would they go out and buy the game or play the game in front of their children? Are we seriously that stupid? In case you didn't know, all you ignorant ***** out there, the provider/guardian of the home is responsible for what the child watches! If you don't want them watching family guy, set parental blocks. If you don't want them listening to "offensive music", use parental blocks. If you don't want them texting that guy down the street, use parental blocks. If you don't want them playing a videogame that has sex in it, DON'T GO OUT AND BUY THEN GAME. It's simple logic really. Use your ******* brain.

Ban killing from games, allow sex.... Really. Parents losing it cause there's a **** showing or a raunchy scene? but their ok cause their son is killing ripping and decapitating in a game??? Our society is going sick.....

just going by the title... (didn't read the meat) im assuming your QQ'ing about "mature" content.
which leads me to believe your either a very disturbingly ugly male (so much so you detest the opposite sex) or it pains you to get aroused OR your a fat girl and detest anything that achieves a level of physical beauty you wont be able to.
or your 12 and haven't hit puberty yet. The level of immaturity displayed by people that raise an issue with this is comical. I consider myself left wing, so perhaps these people are FAAR FAAAAAR left because whatever you are, people like you create negative media attention that hurts everyone and helps no one.
what a waste of time.

did a quick skimming, you seem to be raising the issue as a legitimate debate, and not pushing an agenda. so apologies - my prior comment is for the introverted social outcasts that need to blame something so they use sex.

Shut the **** up. Just like ALL other forms of entertainment, games should be allowed to have as much sex and nudity as anything else. Just because you were raped, or think you were, or have a ****** sex life and feel like ruining everyone else's fun. That just shows me how childish you really are. I put nude mods on my games to make them feel more realistic. I take of a chicks clothes and she's naked, more realistic than her still having something on. I also don't have any moral standards, I do what I feel is right because that's what I want to do. I don't believe in any god and I still have an awesome life.

I have no problem with sex in games, as long as the game is rated AO. Adults should be able to purchase any type of game/entertainment they desire (that is legal), and a game with sexual situations is no different than a movie with a sex scene. Even a sex simulator is acceptable, provided adults over 18 are the only ones able to play it. These games should not be marketed to children either.

The problem here is that having an AO rating for your game is a death sentence. Most sites won't cover or advertise AO games. Most stores won't even acknowledge that they exist. GL finding a single one on Steam. Until games with this rating aren't deliberately buried; you can't use it for games. They have to go for Mature, sorry but 17+ is old enough to see sex. Maybe you didn't lose your virginity until 25 or grew up in some stupid purity church, but for the rest of us, 17+ or 18+ is sufficient for all ***** content.

Ive had the same idea in mind for awhile, u see it everywhere else so why is it such a big deal in games? I think the majority of ppl in the real world engage in sex far more often then a shootout. And ur point about being emotional, makes so much sense. Besides u shouldnt choose to buy a game just on whether it has sex in it or not. U make many good points, its too bad so many others arent taking this seriously. But u make many good points, and i hope that the feeling of taboo about sex in games will be gone rather soon, and ppl would stop making such a fuss about it. Personally, i also think that it is lifting, and that maybe within the next decade even, although that might be a little too hopeful, that it will be just like killing is today. If u think about it, some of the earliest games created for consoles were centered around killing. It might just be because, unlike violence and killing, sex hasnt been present throughout the life of video games in general.

First of all nobody's stopping game-makers from putting such things. They simply don't like too because it's bad for business for parents cutting a huge chunk of their sales. Also, sex and nudity are rarely part of the art. They're cheap attention grabbers meant to increase sales. Games are typically enjoyable enough without such things. Also, big businesses are simply not the heartless greedy ****-holes the left makes them out to be.
Unlike you apparently, they do have some level of conscience regarding what children will be exposed too due to their own decisions. Their primary fan-base are kids. To say that a considerable number of children won't be exposed to everything they put into their games is just stupid, no matter how much they put warning labels.
If you really honestly need sexually explicit material that bad, then there are ways of taking care of that which don't expose a bunch of kids to inappropriate material all because you don't appreciate not having sexual things in your computer games.
I rather appreciate the lack of sexual immorality in most games. If I need sexually explicit material, I certainly find real videos and pictures far more gratifying than drawn cartoon and avatar figures. Oh and if you're into that, there's plenty of it online too.
As for violence, yes it's far less detrimental because everyone knows that you can get hurt as much as you dole it out. Certainly, violence has it's undesired influence, but sexual immorality creates broken homes, and is very deceptive as to the reality of the consequences that not only effect the perpetrators,but also everyone around them, and has the worst effect on the most vulnerable, innocent, and impressionable people. Also,sexual immorality tends to breed a violence into people due to it's direct effect on one's home-life and those vitally important years of childhood.

And you really believe that showing sex is so much worse than depicting violence? What a messed up believe. Sex and eroticism is natural. It's how we reproduce and keep our species alive. But you would rather show a kid *********** it's own species? Cause the main enemy in games, movies and shows are humans. True there is alsosome aliens, zombies, ghosts and a fractual amount of animals in games, but lets be real, how many aliens, zombies, ghosts or aggresive bunny rabbits, deers and wolves have you seen. The first three don't exist or are any part of our life as far we know. At least not scientifical. With aliens I am open for discussion cause I can not believe that earth is supposed to be the only hospitable planet, and that in this vast a universe (and there is probably more than one, I'm not completely up to date on that) there is not supposed to be another or more "intelligent" and probably also far superior species than us. But back to my point. For the most part killing depicts genocide and or homocide. Meaning killing within the own race, and race as in **** sapiens, the current evolutionary state of our species. So you want to tell me that showing and encouraging kids and for that matter anyone to kill fellow humans is better than showing sexual content which just shows a natural part of us and every other species alive, cause we all need to reproduce. Than I believe that you have a very messed up sense of right and wrong. I am pretty sure that noone so far was really talking about sexual harassment, exploit, rape and molesting, but more about sex in general. And I'm also pretty sure that the main focus was not on pornographic hard core fetish sex but first of all the sensual and romantical part of it.
And if you want to start on that kids will be able to have access to no matter what kind of labelling and safeguard there is, well than you should still check in with there parents and see what they did wrong, as you put it. Cause kids will always have access to whatever ***** life features just because no one is 100% true, honest, law abiding and free of sin. And if you are a religious person for Christianity and you want a biblical reference than what about "they who are free of sin, shall throw the first stone". Sorry only have that reference cause ot was the only religion I was ever taught. But than again almost all of the present religions velieve in the same god and system. It's just the way that this god communicates with us is one of main spots for discussion and that some get too hyped about.
Since I'm typing all of this on a phone, I can't see the beginning anymore and don't know whether I made a valid point or not. But at least I gave my two cents and want to conclude this statement by my goal for the future
FREE ICECREAM FOR EVERYONE.
Thank you

Dude I'm sorry about this but I can't help it. To quote PMRants, a well known Youtuber if you didn't already know, "Your english teacher must be very proud of you. I bet she gave you the nickname Zero, not because of the badass reploid from the Megaman X series but because it represents your grade point average." Seriously dude, read what you write before you post it.

First these companies are not doing this for the kids or because they think its morally wrong or right , they do it for money, period. They don't care morally about what they do and they especially don't if your kids sees it or not. The main reason is MONEY, Second, you dont think if a porn game actually would sell in America they wouldnt do one in a second? The dating/sex sims are big in Japan and those seem like they would be cheap to make. Hell you wouldnt even have to have them in brick and mortar stores. You could just sell them on one of the stores and then it would be 100% on the parents.
Im more ****** with this convo because people are actually saying boo sex, yet giving the ultra violence in games a pass. Im cool with violence to the point Im actually a fan and horror is my go to genre. Still the problem with America is the lose their head at the sight of a nipple but when they see someones actual head gone from a gunshot they are only outraged as long as its trendy, a week later and were over it. Im not saying violence needs to be toned down, Im saying is stupid to put something beautiful and natural like sex in the same league as violence. I blamed this 100% on Christianity and conservatives

My opinion is: Parents seem to be ok with death/killing/mutilating/drugs/guns/ect on tv/movies/games but for god sakes dont show nudity or sex. why do they think like this. i have no bloody idea.
i rather have a sex addict child then a sociopath who likes killing.

About a year ago i was shopping for a new game. Next to me was a 10 year old and his mother that agreed to purchase a game for him that was rated M. In the last ten to 15 years i have seen more and more games get blocked due to nudity or graphic violence. Its all because of bad parents buying games for their children that should not have them. Its not right that there is a group that can tell a game company that they have to make games less violent or remove sexual content from them. I'm an ***** and i don't like having my things censored as I don' t live in a dictatorship.

The reason why there isn't sex in video games (in my opinion, I may be wrong, but this my observations). The only rating that can have sex is Rated-M games. Because Rated-M games are, Mature (17+), and Rated-M games are for age 17 and up. But in today's society or generation, kids (11-16) are playing these games and have parents that don't care too. So that's why gaming companies know (or just have an idea, like I said just from observation) that kids under that age are playing these Rated-M games. So thats why gaming companies are staying away from sex in games and keep it in Rated-A games (which you don't find today or rarely).
So what sucks is that, a lot of parents don't care what their kids play which is sad. But I must say, when I was 13 years old I played my first Rated-M game which was "Halo: Combat Evolved" (2005, yes I was behind). But when ever I went to a Blockbuster and wanted to rent a game, if I wanted to try a Rated-M game, my mom always checked it. So I think we should bring it back. If kids are playing without their parents checking, and then those parents complain about it. Then gaming companies can say "Its your fault for letting your kids playing these games." And thats what I think.

The word is spelled "lewd," not "leud."
I play video games for the strategy and tactics. I am more interested in defeating enemies, developing efficient systems, and beating timers than fake video romance with women who don't really exist.
If I knew a game had a lot of sex in it, I would not buy it because it would not be fun for me to play.

Games like Mass Effect are not about beating timers or grinding for loot. Its about a dramatic interactive story where the player controls decisions that effect characters in the game. Thats why sex in that game is appropriate, because its a derivative of an emotional payoff resulting in their choices. No one is saying that sex should be put into every game, just that its relevant and appropriate for certain ones. Parents need more involvement in the media their children consume, then they can stop trying to blacklist game's and developers for their creative decisions.

It's quite hard to take a comment seriously when you don't know proper spelling, it would go that's why YOU'RE single, as in you are, idiot
If you disagree with sex and nudity, don't buy the games, simple enough. Me, I'm a married man who has been gaming since pong, and the advancement of gaming over the course of these years makes you understand what the developer is actually trying to convey. Take The Witcher 2 for example, easy enough to **** hookers and get your jollies, but Mass Effect, completely different, you build relationships with the characters that you happen to be stuck in the middle of space with, and unless you want bald Jack, it teaches a lesson in real life, sure you can take the easy chicks, but wooing a female is so much better....understanding these nuances make the difference between tasteful and ****...gaming is going to a new market these days, one that focuses more on what the system can do outside of gaming rather than the actual gaming experience, how can we make this MORE family friendly? How can we get children to make their parents drop 500 bucks on a new system? Gamers used to be broke gents playing goldeneye, what happened?

I've always had an opinion for people who look at digital characters, or crappy jagged shapes on a screen (aka a video game character) and said "wow they're hot". That opinion is usually met with a wtf look and a punch to their face. It's just so sad the state of people these days. Most of the people we're talking about here haven't and won't ever touch a **** because well they play video games. The other select few nerds that actually have women are the ones that don't care about this stuff in video games because they have the real thing.
Bottom line is, if you think we need sex in video games...if you think we need 2 solid objects bumping into each other with limited robotic movements, no interaction just like I said 2 solid objects banging into each other...then you are a sad sad object yourself.
That opinion won't change and I won't look at anyone in a positive light that applies. It's possible that in maybe 30 or 40 years when "game graphics" are believable or at least don't look so awful and garbage like they do now that I might be a bit more lenient...but until we have Avatar level mo-cap and emotional movement in video games....nope.

First I will start with this lol worthy quote...
"I've always had an opinion for people who look at digital characters, or crappy jagged shapes on a screen (aka a video game character) and said "wow they're hot". That opinion is usually met with a wtf look and a punch to their face."
STFU!
I can guarantee that other than maybe the WTF look, that literally has never happened. Do you want a Tapout shirt to go along with that e-thuggidness? Are you actually that hypocritical? You pretty much call them sad and pathetic, then go onto to tell a obviously fake tale about you punching people in the face to seem like a badass.
Another thing, games are at the level that you can realistically pull off a sex scene. Add in how you decribe character models and you either haven't played a game in years.
Also claiming that only a handful of "nerds" (the fact that you use that term as a insult makes your whole fake tough guy douche act even more hilarious) will ever touch a **** because they some how found out how to get a girl is humorous.The Mass Effect series has sold millions of copies so even a small percentage of that is still a lot of nerds getting laid. You just come off as clown shoes with this post man,F'n ridiculous.
Another thing, what is the difference between thinking a video game character, comic book character, or a cartoon character and thinking a pornstar or celebrity is hot? What the difference between to getting aroused or jerking it to the any of them? Is it because they are flesh and blood? Reality is a subjective thing considering none of us have the same experiences, its made up of what we see, hear, feel,and taste. Jennifer Lawrence and Sasha Grey are as real to you and 99%+ of the population as Chun-li or Jessica Rabbit are. You say people that think drawn or 3D characters are hot, are sad, yet they have just as much of a chance with any of them as you and the vast super majority of the population has with a pornstar or a celebrity because. It all comes down to how subjective reality is to the individual.

Are you seriously that close minded? We have come along way in gaming and interaction not to mention human interaction, but to call someone stupid or pathetic just because on something that is against your belief is pathetic in itself. But hey if you wish to go that route... what do you like? I bet the things you like are pathetic and stupid to some. Like hip hop music? I don't. Would you like me to call you stupid and pathetic because in my views I see that music as for losers. Why is it that it's taboo to put romance in games but ok for film, television, books, novels and other ideas? If you don't like it, fine. Don't buy it and keep your insults to yourself. I don't go around blabbering how much hip hop sucks. It's there choose. As long as it harms no one and keeps everything civil, then I don't care if someone listens to nails on a chalkboard. Just don't call someone a loser just because someone likes something that you don't. Use your brain man. It's there to think and conjure up ideas. You'll be surprised the outcome.

You are the sad **** for even thinking that sex should be in video games for the reasons that you said. This article says nothing about trying to do you fan service. But we can see it is obviously what's on your mind even though you deny it. As for saying video game characters are hot... well you know they are based on real people nowadays so it's perfectly fine. You know when you watch a movie you are watching a 2D image but I bet you find 2D actors hot right? Because they resemble a real person, your mind does the rest. Not that this is at all relevant to the point the writer is trying to make, but I feel like your ****** opinion needed to be addressed.

look. I can understand the desire to put sex in games. there's nothing wrong with wanting the option to see a little action. Yet I believe there are ways it can be done as to not hard wire it into games themselves.
there is a few problems with allowing sex in a game. the major problem is this. most game companies might want to add sex into their game, but not all people want to have sex in the game, and some would prefer it not to be in the game to begin with. this leads to the issue of the game company trying to decide if they should or should not include sexual content. if they choose to put sex in the game it will most likely lower sales. the reason is this. As I said before not all people want the option of having sex hard wired into the game. so this leaves the game companies with only a few options.
first, they could allow people to mod the game, yet if they give people the ability to mod it opens the game up to viruses, hacks, and takes some of the control of the game out of the hands of the game company.
next, they could put the content into the game, and put some sort of block on it so that only people that access the content will see it. but as we've seen before with other games that have done similar things. this often times leads to the block being compromised, kids see the content, it gets blown out of proportion on TV and media that the game has sexual content embedded into it, and in the end the game company has to pay large fines.
now the final option (and most likely the most logical) is to make the game standard without the sexual content, and allow people the option to download the sexual content like an expansion, or patch to the game. the content would require age verification, and a form of credit card payment. this would in essence free up the game company from having to pay fines for kids getting the content unless the kid is acting dishonestly. at that point the parents would be held responsible for the kids actions (which they are already, but fail to care about, or seek only to blame others for), the game company would then be giving people that want the sexual content what they want, and adults that don't really care to have sex in their game could still play the game without having to hassle with it.
now if the kid gets hold of the sexual content and installs it illegally (weather it is from stealing ***** information to fabricate a site download, or getting the installation files from a pirated site or source) they will still be acting outside of the companies set restrictions of the content, thereby freeing the company from the ramifications of kids doing things outside of a companies EULA (you know. that large amount of text after installation that about 90% or more of the gaming community doesn't read, and most likely just clicks the check box and the "Next" button on).
as I said, there shouldn't be a problem adding sex into games if people REALLY want it in them, but game companies need to consider better options of allowing people the ability to include the content, and many opt to not put the content into the games to begin with solely because of the money required to allow the option, and the man power required to create the content to begin with.

I agree fully with this guy here. Good article man!! Sex should be included, I mean look at how popular Hot Coffee was for GTA:SA!! And taking away from all the hookers and taking a different approach, what about Assassin's Creed II? No-one complained about its sex scene (admittedly yes all you see and do is strip her down, look at her bare back and shoulders and see some sideboob) or Assassin's Creed Brotherhood's (same sort of thing, but in a bath) once they found out it was to flesh out the character relationships a bit more. Then we have middle spectrum with The Witcher and The Witcher 2: Assassins Of Kings, where there's nudity and/or sex, but they are skippable scenes if that's not for you, and the only necessary ones are romantic scenes, once again to show character relationship or just to add to the story and experience, although with actual **** showing unlike AC. Yeah you have the option to bang a *****, but its an OPTION, and even then its still shown somewhat romanticized. Bottom line is, with video games heading in the direction of movies and tv shows, with its audience, violent or dark themes, deep involving storylines, and pretty much everything else in a modern game, depending on genre, why can't we for example be playing a horror game, and have a sex scene moments before a gory death, like pretty much every horror movie franchise, or play a game like Witcher or AC where its for character and story without getting criticised as a porn and gore simulator, or even just bang away at hookers? It's in our society everywhere else, might as well be in our games